-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` The political reality is ... that the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here . '' -- Senator Chuck Hagel , 2006

As a result of those words and his voting record , former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel 's nomination has turned a decades-long , bipartisan confirmation process for secretary of defense into an acrimonious one .

While some leading figures such as the Anti-Defamation League 's Abe Foxman and the Simon Wiesenthal Center 's Rabbi Abraham Cooper say Hagel 's words are borderline anti-Semitism , I 'm less worried about anti-Semitism and more worried about the judgment of a potential defense secretary who thinks Israel has won support because of `` intimidation , '' not merit .

Israel is widely supported by the American people because Israel deserves to be supported . Israel is a lonely democratic ally and a steady friend of the United States in a dangerous and tumultuous region . Their people are like the American people -- free , independent , capitalistic and tolerant .

A Gallup poll taken last year showed 71 % of the American people view Israel favorably while only 19 % view the Palestinian Authority favorably and just 10 % view Iran favorably .

In a Pew Research Center study last month , 50 % of adults said they sympathize more with Israel in its dispute than with the Palestinians . Just 10 % sympathize more with the Palestinians , while about as many -LRB- 13 % -RRB- volunteered that they sympathize with neither side .

Contrary to Hagel 's logic , Israel does n't enjoy widespread American support because anyone -- from any faith -- intimidated someone else ; Israel earned the support of the American people because of its people 's values .

Opinion : Hagel is a friend to Israel

The danger in what Hagel said is if he thinks Israel is supported on Capitol Hill because of intimidation , then it 's not hard to see why Hagel is so soft in his support for our ally . He sees himself as an independent voice willing to stand up to intimidation , and he wears his anti-Israel votes as badges of honor .

But Hagel is n't independent . He 's alone .

His position on Middle Eastern matters is so outside the mainstream of both parties that almost no one agrees with him .

In 2000 , Hagel was one of only four senators who refused to sign a Senate letter in support of Israel .

Peter Beinart : What 's behind Hagel nomination fight

The following year Hagel was one of only 11 senators who refused to sign a letter urging President George W. Bush to continue his policy of not meeting with Yasser Arafat until the Palestinian leader took steps to end the violence against Israel .

John Cornyn : Why I ca n't support Hagel

Contrary to America 's longstanding bipartisan position , Hagel has called for direct talks with terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah . In 2007 , Hagel voted against labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps , the group responsible for the death of many American servicemen in Iraq , a terrorist organization .

And in 2008 , he was one of two senators on the banking committee to oppose a bill putting sanctions on Iran . One of the measure 's biggest backers was an Illinois senator named Barack Obama .

I 'm a New Yorker and neither of my senators -- Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand -- supports Israel because someone muscled them into that position through intimidation . They both support Israel because the lobby that wants them to support Israel is an American lobby , made up of people from both parties and all religions and from people with no religion or political party at all .

But if Chuck Hagel believes that it 's intimidation and not sound judgment that has caused his colleagues to support Israel , then Chuck Hagel should not be confirmed as our next secretary of defense .

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ari Fleischer .

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In 2006 , Hagel said ` the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here '

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Ari Fleischer : The support for Israel is n't because of ` intimidation , ' but merit

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Polls show most Americans view Israel favorably , but do n't support Iran or Palestinians

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Fleischer : Israel is a steady friend of the U.S. and a tolerant democracy